County Health Care Costs Rise

Butler County is expected to pay nearly half a million dollars more next year for health care for its employees.

Highmark, the county’s current provider, will raise costs by 6 percent, or an additional $450,000. Butler County currently pays $7.3 million for health care; costs are expected to rise to $7.7 million in 2018.

County Chief Clerk Scott Andrejak told the county commissioners at a meeting Wednesday that Highmark initially proposed a 30 percent increase, but the county was able to negotiate down to 16 percent, then to 9 percent, before landing at 6 percent.

The commissioners are expected to vote on the contract at their meeting next week.